Puts things in perspective for me. Yeah, we’ve had some rough patches dealing with autism over the years plus extra family challenges such as a husband in Iraq and now a cop (Serenity Now!), but this? Having all 6 kids on the spectrum? What a woman.

Autism x 6: Family’s kids all have the disorder

We’ve had a pretty OK week. Things (I hope) are winding down for the end of the school year. Only a week and a half left! Lots of visits from new families to my school plus last minute meetings with out-going families. I officially let them know that I cannot keep a full-time position next year because I really want to build my private practice. They seemed “eager” to have me stay in some capacity, so I am looking at another position still in the district that is part-time.

I’m really enjoying my private consulting. I guess that’s where my heart is. I enjoy designing and running programs. I like working with families who are involved and are “choosing” to do this. Mostly, I love working with the wee-little ones because they make such tremendous progress, and it’s so fun to be a part of that.

Audra (Jr.) had a rough week. She’s an interesting little girl, I have to say. She is about as unique as they come. She has this incredible energy level, she’s boisterous, animated, and not a girly-girl. She’s not into fashion or the newest trends as some of the girls are beginning to be. She still loves Pokemon and Webkinz and wears sweats whenever she can and gets grass stains on her knees. Her best friend lives two doors down and they spend almost every waking minute together. If it weren’t for her, I’d be really worried about Audra. She does not fit in with the girls at church. She is never invited to hang out. Once every other week she goes to an activity with the girls at church her age, and she’s been feeling unsure of herself. I guess it all came out this last week. I think because she’s feeling a bit like a misfit, she tries to do things to get attention or find a way into the “group”, but it just ended up with her being dumb and getting her feelings hurt. I feel bad for her, but she’s a lot like I was and it brings back many memories. I didn’t have a “place” through junior high school. I wasn’t trendy. I liked strange, alternative music (following after older brothers for that). I didn’t fit in with the “Mormon” girls, but I’d moved to the area recently enough that I didn’t have any non-church friends. Those years were tough! It wasn’t until high school where I found others mistfits that we fit together that I felt I had a place, but those weren’t necessarily people with the best influence on me. I struggled for many years to find who I was, to be who I wanted to be but while being surrounded by good people. It took me serving a mission to really grasp the fact that I didn’t have to fit into a “group”. I could be just who I was and still hold on to my morals and ideals, and I could be perfectly happy without any group whatsoever if I needed to. I suppose that’s just maturity.

I just feel for my girl. I can see her struggling with the same issues I did. What she has that I never had was one good friend with strong morals who let me be who I wanted to be. Audra has that. I am so grateful for her friendship with Kyndall.

Have a good week!